xxii CONTENTS 



CHAPTER XX 

 the eras in the floral history of the pacific islands 



The Age of Ferns 



The eras in the plant-stocking. — The age of ferns and lycopods. — ^The 

 relative proportion of vascular cryptogams in Hawaii, Fiji, and Tahiti. — 

 The large number of peculiar species in Hawaii. — The mountain ferns of 

 Hawaii. — The origin of peculiar species. — Dr. Hillebrand's views. — Their 

 origin connected not with greater variety of climate in Hawaii, but with 

 isolation. — Summary Pages 220 — 230 



CHAPTER XXI 

 the eras of the flowering plants 

 The Era of the Endemic Genera 



The Age of Composite 



The islands of the tropical Pacific as the homes of new genera and new species. 

 — The significance of a large endemic element. — Synopsis of the eras. — The 

 era of endemic genera. — The endemic genera of Composite. — Their 

 affinities and mode of dispersal. — The mystery of the suspension of the 

 dispersing agencies. — Mr. Bentham's views. — The remnant of an ancient 

 Composite flora in the tropical Pacific. — The dispersion of the Compositse 

 antedates the emergence of the island-groups of the Fijian region at the 

 close of the Tertiary period. — Summary Pages 2^1 — 249 



CHAPTER XXn 

 the era of the endemic genera {continued) 



The Age of the Tree-Lobelias 



The distribution of the arborescent LobeUace». — On the upper flanks of Ruwen- 

 zori. — The Lobeliacese of the Hawaiian Islands. — The Lobeliacea of the 

 Tahitian or East Polynesian region. — The capacities for dispersal. — The 

 explanation of the absence of the early Lobeliaceaa from West Polynesia.— 

 The other Hawaiian endemic genera. — The Fijian endemic genera. — 

 Summary Pages 250 — 267 



